How To Select Dance Shoes

There's nothing worse than trying to dance with someone or perform on stage and have your feet feel like they are going to fall off. That's why it's so important to find the proper shoes for dancing. They have to not only look good, but feel good and offer the proper amount of support for your feet and ankles.

The first step to remember to buying dancing shoes is to figure out what type of dance they will be used for. Ballet? Tap? Ballroom? Let's go with Ballroom dancing shoes. For women, you want no more than a 1 inch to 3 inch heel; any higher and not only is it harder to perform, but extremely high heels can cause problems not only with your feet and ankles, but also your knees. The heel of this shoe will be thinner than other high heels.

Ballroom shoes should be light, not heavy, and they must have a smooth sole. Dance shoes come in an array of colors, sizes, textures. Pick what catches your eye and please, try those shoes on first. To give even more protection to your feet, it's best to pick closed toed dancing shoes. This helps to minimize impact a little if someone with two left feet happens to step on yours! You want the material of the shoe to be soft, almost flexible.

The next question becomes, 'Where do I find these dance shoes?' First, try your local shoe stores. Knowledgeable sales staff will be able to help you find the right fit. If you don't have any luck there, another great place would be at dance competitions themselves. The vendors will likely be there, promoting their new line of fabulous dance shoes. Go for it! If, for some reason, you still can't find anything and you've been to every shop, every dance studio, every competition, and you still can't find the dancing shoes for you, try ordering them online. The only drawback to that is, of course, you can't try them on.

The shoe needs to have a snug fit, almost molding to your foot, but not be so tight that your toes feel like they will be squeezed right out of it. It's a lot to remember. But, if you are going to be out there either dancing the night away or on stage showing off all of your dancing skills, then the proper dancing shoe is a must!